Eco Galaxy is comfortable and new catamaran. A yacht safari aboard this elegant vessel will give you the opportunity to enjoy the best that the Galapagos Islands have to offer, with fun days, a great educational experience, a leisurely excursion with lots of adventure; all of this presented to you with unmatched high quality service, delicious food, knowledgeable and helpful guides and professional crew.
One of the main characteristics of this catamaran is that was built based on ecological parameters with the intention to reduce the negative environmental impacts of tourism. Some of its key feature are having lower fuel consumption of all the first class vessels of 16 passengers, aiming to reuse water once it has been treated by using it to wash external side of the vessel, saving energy through use of LED lamps and bulbs, minimal use of wood in construction, locally prepared food, utilising locally grown produce in order to help support the island’s local population, staff training every three months in customer service, conservation of the islands and species invasion, biodigradable cleaning and bathroom products, tin free paint, non-toxic refridgerants, support to local foundations and schools.
Passengers can relax in the yacht's modern social areas, including the library, dining room or bar or enjoy a drink on the sundeck. The itineraries are developed for the benefit of the passengers, who will have the opportunity to combine hiking, snorkeling, beach and kayaking; your professional guides will introduce you to the most relevant sites on each island.
This wonderful catamaran offers 8 double cabins: 4 located in Upper Deck and 4 in the main deck; the Upper cabins are able to be connecting between them. Additionally, all cabins can be twin or matrimonial. Private facilities in each cabin: private bathrooms, cold/hot water; air conditioned, hair dryer, telephone for internal communication on board, safe box, and high speaker.
Technical Specifications
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Itinerary
Please note that these itineraries are subject to change without notice due to seasonal changes, last minute weather conditions and the decision of the Galapagos National Park authority.
Day 1 (Tuesday): San Cristobal Island: Kicker Rock & Lobos Island
San Cristobal airport. Reception at airport. Transfer In. Welcome on board Galaxy II Cruise. Welcome drink and lunch.
SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND: KICKED ROCK: Leon Dormido This is formed by two rocks of approximately 148m above sea level named thus by its similitude with a lion we will pass between both rocks but we will not disembark because is not possible to do it.
LOBOS ISLAND Panga Ride, swimming and snorkeling. Description of the place: this place is the habitat of seals, frigates, finches, marine iguanas, lava lizards, and the small endemic Galapagos snake. Here, we can swim and snorkeling in the same place. Dinner.
Day 2 (Wednesday): Santa Fe Island & South Plazas Island
SANTA FE: Wet landing, activities for this day: hiking, swimming and snorkeling. Description of this place: With 24 Km2 and 60 meters of height above sea level, it is an almost central island that has a unique place of visit: an incredible bay with turquoise water protected by a natural barrier of rocks and from you can appreciate colonies of seals and hawks flying over. It is home of one of the two species of land iguanas that have the islands, their main food are the leaves and fruits of the large and thick cactus. Crabs, nocturnal herons, marine iguanas, cucuves and land doves are seen frequently. The Bay is excellent place to swim and to do snorkeling. Marine Tortoises, rays, sea lions and tropical fishes are an amazing attraction! Snacks and refreshing beverages expect for you on board. Lunch.
SOUTH PLAZAS are two small islands, created by land uplift where land iguanas are known to be smaller; they nest during warm time. The hike goes along an extraordinary cliff where sea birds nest. Approximately, in this Island there are 1000 sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki)and they are located in south side of Plazas
Day 3 (Thursday): North Seymour Island - Mosquera Islet
NORTH SEYMOUR: This Island was formed by the lifting of volcanic marine lava. Marine fossil where found in this island; the fossil dates from Pleistocene.
In 1932 the Capitan Alan Hancock and his crew took 72 land iguanas from Baltra Island and the iguanas were introduced in North Seymour Island; the reason of this change was that the iguanas could live in better conditions than in Baltra. The crew of Capitan Hancock found malnourished iguanas in Baltra; in 1934 colonizing people verified that the iguanas were in good conditions. The vegetation of North Seymour is bushy and host nest of Real Frigates of Galapagos. Return to EcoGalaxy. Lunch
MOSQUERA ISLET: This islet is located between Baltra Island and North Seymour. Here, we find the biggest sea lions colony; also it is possible to observe several species of birds.
Day 4 (Friday): Genovesa Island: Darwin Bay & Barranco
DARWIN BAY: wet landing, coral beach, activities for this day: short walks, photography, swimming, snorkeling. The Genovesa is a small island situated to the north of Galapagos our unloading in Darwin bay will be wet. Near to the beach we will find a small forest of mangrove swamp where we will discover a colony of Frigates, marine iguanas, red-foot boobies and mask boobies, the great terrestrial finch, seagull, herons, finch of cactus. After this visit in land, we have the option that our passengers enjoy swimming in the bay. Lunch
BARRANCO: dry landing, activities: hiking. Also known as Prince Felipe’s stairs. Here, we will have a walk for the Barranco path. In our journey we will observe tropical birds, petrels, common frigate, red-foot boobies, mask boobies, dove, and finches.
Day 5 (Friday): Carrion Point
Punta Carrión is located in northeastern Santa Cruz, we will navigate around this point which will you provide opportunities to see various sea birds nesting on the rock cliffs. Transfer Out.
Day 1 (Saturday): Baltra Island & Santa Cruz Island
Baltra airport. Reception at airport. Transfer IN. Welcome on board EcoGalaxy Cruise. Welcome drink and lunch.
Charles Darwin Station is located in the Main Port of Santa Cruz Island, we will take our private bus that take us to the entrance of the center of breeding where we go to appreciate tortoises and land iguanas in captivity, this center is the main site of breeding of the islands. Animals that were in danger of extinction in the different islands are maintained in captivity and thanks at dedicated work of several institutions some species are saving, here was where the most famous tortoise “the Solitary George” the last survivor of the species of Pinta Island lived.
Day 2 (Sunday): Isabela Island
TINTORERAS: Located in the bay of Puerto Villamil, this small island surrounded by calm turquoise waters has an easy trail with great landscapes and very interesting fauna. Along the trail we will see large numbers of Marine Iguanas basking in the sun, lava lizards, herons, gulls and sea lions. In the coves, it is easy to find Sea Turtles, rays and even Penguins. Among the many cracks and channels in the coast sometimes we can see White-tipped Reef Sharks (in Spanish “Tintoreras”). After the visit, we will return to the boat to have breakfast and begin the navigation to the next point.
PM MORENO POINT. After lunch, we will disembark in Moreno Point which is located near Elizabeth Bay on the west coast of Isabela Island. The plethora of birds seen during a dinghy ride along the striking rocky shores or a hike along path through lava rock leading to tide pools and mangroves create a birdwatcher’s delight. In the tide pools, green sea turtles or white-tip sharks can be spotted.
Day 3: (Monday): Isabela Island
ELIZABETH BAY: This is one of the island’s breeding sites for penguins. Located on the west coast of Isabela, Elizabeth Point is a marine visitor site. Visit red mangrove cove: Brown pelicans, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays and sea lions are often seen. Lunch
URBINA BAY: this place is located at the base of Alcedo Volcano between Elizabeth Bay and Tagus Cove. Wet landing. Trail length is around 3.20 Km; during this walking we can observe land iguanas, hawks, tortoises; also it is possible to see red and blue lobsters.
Day 4 (Tuesday): Fernandina & Isabela Island
FERNANDINA ISLAND – ESPINOZA POINT: Fernandina is the 3rd island bigger of Galapagos and has just one visit place: Espinoza Point.
Espinoza Point is famous site because you will find big colonies of marine iguanas and to be the unique place where the flightless Cormorant lives, Galapagos penguin, hawk, snakes of Galapagos and many other. From Espinoza Point we can admire Fernandina Island and its volcano which last eruption was on May 2005. Fernandina is the only island that doesn’t have any mammal introduced and the open areas are very fragile. In nesting time of marine iguana (January to June) we have a lot care when we are walking. Return to EcoGalaxy. Lunch.
Day 5 (Wednesday): Santiago Island & Rabida Island
EGAS PORT: In this site we find a black sand beach; at south of this beach there is a volcano called Pan de Azucar, it has volcanic deposits which have contributed to the formation of this black sand beach.
The crater of this volcano has a salt lake which in warm time becomes dry and it is possible to appreciate a salt mine. Between 1928 and 1930 there were some explorations to this mine but they didn’t function; additionally, it caused damages to the environment because of workers use endemic woods. It is not allowed go down to salt mine. Lunch.
RABIDA ISLAND: The visitor site is located on the east coast of Rabida Island, consists of a red sand beach, a coastal lagoon behind the beach, and a loop trail. The approximate distance of the trail is 1.1 kilometers.
Day 6 (Thursday): Santa Cruz Island: Black Turtle Cove
BLACK TURTLE COVE: Welcome on board. After lunch our first visit is to Black Turtle Cove which is situated in the northern of Santa Cruz. This bay is surrounded by mangroves and is accessible by dinghy only. The superficial cove is a safe refuge for marine life. Black-tip reef sharks, marine turtles, and a variety of rays are often spotted here. Transfer to the airport
Day 1 (Thursday): Baltra Island - Santa Cruz Island: Bachas Beach
Arrive to Baltra Island and Transfer In
BACHAS BEACH: This beautiful beach is located at north of Santa Cruz Island; the beach has total extension of 1Km.
The site takes its name since Second War when the American army left two barges in the beach, the first colonizing people couldn’t pronounce that name correctly: barges, so they called Bachas.
Day 2 (Friday): Santiago island & Bartolome Islands
SULLIVAN BAY: wet landing and hiking. Description of the place: all the road and the island is composed of lava flows that still they are virtually without eroding and they cover an extensive area, lava pohoehhoe or of cords, hornitos, mollugo, this plant grows in the lava. Lava Colonizers.
BARTOLOME ISLAND: Dry landing, landing wet for the beach, activities to carry out in this island: walk, swimming, snorkeling, and photography. We will walk for a path to the top (114 m) pioneering plants that will observe in this place TIQUILIA, CHAMAESYCE, SCALESIA, the island is formed by cones, pipes of lava by where lava flow. Wet landing, path to the south beach through mangrove swamps and vegetation of dunes. North beach: Swimming and snorkeling will be the activities that are going to carry out. Since the top of the island Bartolome we will be able to observe the islands as Santiago, Rabida, Isabela. We can find penguins in the Rock Pinnacle.
Day 3 (Saturday): Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Charles Darwin Station
Arrive to Baltra Island. This island is known to be inhabited by militaries only. On this island is located one of our mains Galapagos airports. Once you arrive your guide will be waiting for you. Transfer to Santa Cruz Island, we cross the Itabaca Chanel (from airport to this place is around 15 minutes), after this we take our private bus to Puerto Ayora.
Once we arrive to Puerto Ayora, we will go direct to EcoGalaxy: cabin accommodation and take lunch. After lunch, our first visit is HIGHLANDS OF SANTA CRUZ,where we have a trekking and we will find the giant tortoises in their natural habitat, this is a natural spectacular. For this visit we recommend to use sport shoes, long pants, raincoat, hut and sun block. Back to Puerto Ayora.
Charles Darwin Station is located in the Main Port of Santa Cruz Island, we will take our private bus that take us to the entrance of the center of breeding where we go to appreciate tortoises and land iguanas in captivity, this center is the main site of breeding of the islands. Animals that were in danger of extinction in the different islands are maintained in captivity and thanks at dedicated work of several institutions some species are saving, here was where the most famous tortoise “the Solitary George” the last survivor of the species of Pinta Island lived.
Day 4 (Sunday): Floreana Island
PUNTA CORMORANT: wet landing, snorkeling and short trekking. This point is located at west of Floreana Island and it is famous to has a dark green beach due to the great quantity of olivine crystals. You can see many marine invertebrates, as well as also sea lions, sea iguanas, the frigates and pelicans. Second visit: DEVIL´S CROWN: Activities in this place: panga ride and optional swimming. Panga ride around of a small island, this place was a satellite islet of the island Floreana. Here, we will find a group of rocks that seem to a crown, due to the constant erosion caused by the sea. It is one of the better places to do snorkeling (superficial diving) in the interior and around of the crown, excellent visibility to admire a great variety of fishes and sea animals.
POST OFFICE (Mail Bay): Wet landing. Activities in this place: short walk, swimming, snorkeling, review of the mail. Description of the Place: it is situated to the north of Floreana Island. The Post Office Bay name is because of Capitan James Colnett installed an empty Ron barrel, to use it as post office for the whaling fleets that frequented for a long time the Galapagos Islands. You can send some postcards from here to your friends and relatives or interchange letter to deliver in their destiny.
Day 5 (Monday): Espanola Island
SUAREZ POINT: dry landing, activities that were carried out in this place: walking; recommendable clothes: sports shoes, hat, cap, solar lotion. There is not color more amazing and outstanding in this tropical desert island that the blue-foot boobies; they have an impressive form to “greeting” and it is a real spectacle to see the ritualistic parade of the entourage. In several islands we can admire this bird due to that nests and feed are located in diverse places close to the coast. In this place we will be able to observe the Albatross with a weight from three to four kilograms and an importance of more than two meters, this creature of aristocratic aspect is one of the largest birds of the islands. Around twelve thousand couples have their nests in the Española Island (some few in the Silver Island near of main land Ecuador). This specie is considered endemic from this island during our walking we will be able to observe these fantastic birds, we will be part of the beautiful and only landscapes that offers this island. Important Note: Albatross will be not possible to see between January and March. Also we will observe colonies of marine iguanas, zayapas, mask boobies, finches, Española cucuves, and seagulls unique of the island. Our walking will be for lava rock path where we will be able to admire the hollow blowers. The vegetation of this island is of red mangrove.
GARDNER BAY: wet landing, activities for this visit: short walking, swimming, snorkeling, and observation of seals colony.
The sea lion is one of the animals in Galapagos which gets the total attention of the visitors in the Galapagos: they are curious and playful, but at times aggressive; they are nice and loving, but also lazy. In Gardner Bay, we are going to find many of them relaxing in the beach enjoying of the sun. Snorkeling in the area where we will be able to swim with them, besides you observe these fascinating animals, we will swim with the sea turtles, diversity of tropical fish, marine iguanas etc. We will return to the ship, to sail toward the following island. Visit to: Gardner & Osborn Islets.
Day 6 (Tuesday): San Cristobal Island: Interpretation Centre - Transfer Out
INTERPRETATION CENTER: Dry landing. This center is location in the Main Port. After our breakfast we will go toward our first visit: Interpretation Center of San Cristobal. The most modern and sophisticated architectural space destined for the natural interpretation of Galapagos, where you can know from the volcanic formation of the islands, the evolution of the species, passing for the history of the human settlements to come to understand to its complex systems and model of management. Transfer out.
Day 1 (Saturday): Baltra Island & Santa Cruz Island
Baltra airport. Reception at airport. Transfer IN. Welcome on board Galaxy II. Welcome drink and lunch.
Charles Darwin Station is located in the Main Port of Santa Cruz Island, we will take our private bus that take us to the entrance of the center of breeding where we go to appreciate tortoises and land iguanas in captivity, this center is the main site of breeding of the islands. Animals that were in danger of extinction in the different islands are maintained in captivity and thanks at dedicated work of several institutions some species are saving, here was where the most famous tortoise “the Solitary George” the last survivor of the species of Pinta Island lived.
Day 2 (Sunday): Isabela Island
TINTORERAS: Located in the bay of Puerto Villamil, this small island surrounded by calm turquoise waters has an easy trail with great landscapes and very interesting fauna. Along the trail we will see large numbers of Marine Iguanas basking in the sun, lava lizards, herons, gulls and sea lions. In the coves, it is easy to find Sea Turtles, rays and even Penguins. Among the many cracks and channels in the coast sometimes we can see White-tipped Reef Sharks (in Spanish “Tintoreras”). After the visit, we will return to the boat to have breakfast and begin the navigation to the next point.
PM MORENO POINT. After lunch, we will disembark in Moreno Point which is located near Elizabeth Bay on the west coast of Isabela Island. The plethora of birds seen during a dinghy ride along the striking rocky shores or a hike along path through lava rock leading to tide pools and mangroves create a birdwatcher’s delight. In the tide pools, green sea turtles or white-tip sharks can be spotted.
Day 3 (Monday): Isabela Island
ELIZABETH BAY: This is one of the island’s breeding sites for penguins. Located on the west coast of Isabela, Elizabeth Point is a marine visitor site. Visit red mangrove cove: Brown pelicans, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays an dsea lion sare often seen. Lunch
URBINA BAY: this place is located at the base of Alcedo Volcano between Elizabeth Bay and Tagus Cove. Wet landing. Trail length is around 3.20 Km; during this walking we can observe land iguanas, hawks, tortoises; also it is possible to see red and blue lobsters.
Day 4 (Tuesday): Fernandina & Isabela Island
FERNANDINA ISLAND – ESPINOZA POINT: Fernandina is the 3rd island bigger of Galapagos and has just one visit place: Espinoza Point.
Espinoza Point is famous site because you will find big colonies of marine iguanas and to be the unique place where the flightless Cormorant lives, Galapagos penguin, hawk, snakes of Galapagos and many other. From Espinoza Point we can admire Fernandina Island and its volcano which last eruption was on May 2005. Fernandina is the only island that doesn’t have any mammal introduced and the open areas are very fragile. In nesting time of marine iguana (January to June) we have a lot care when we are walking. Return to EcoGalaxy. Lunch.
ISABELA ISLAND: VICENTE ROCA POINT: is comprised of two separate coves, this site is a large bay with spectacular sea life. Keep an eye out for seahorses, sea turtles, and the strange yet fascinating Mola-mola (sunfish).
Day 5 (Wednesday): Santiago Island & Rabida Island
EGAS PORT: In this site we find a black sand beach; at south of this beach there is a volcano called Pan de Azucar, it has volcanic deposits which have contributed to the formation of this black sand beach.
The crater of this volcano has a salt lake which in warm time becomes dry and it is possible to appreciate a salt mine. Between 1928 and 1930 there were some explorations to this mine but they didn’t function; additionally, it caused damages to the environment because of workers use endemic woods. It is not allowed go down to salt mine. Lunch.
RABIDA ISLAND: The visitor site is located on the east coast of Rabida Island, consists of a red sand beach, a coastal lagoon behind the beach, and a loop trail. The approximate distance of the trail is 1.1 kilometers.
The color of the rocks and sand on the beach is due to the very porous volcanic material, which with the help of environmental factors (rain, salt water and sea breeze, has acted as an oxidizing agent. The main attraction of the place is the red sand beach, scenery, aside from the vegetation of the arid zone and the presence of native and endemic species.
Day 6 (Thursday): Santa Cruz Island: Black Turtle Cove & Bachas Beach
BLACK TURTLE COVE: Welcome on board. After lunch our first visit is to Black Turtle Cove which is situated in the northern of Santa Cruz. This bay is surrounded by mangroves and is accessible by dinghy only. The superficial cove is a safe refuge for marine life. Black-tip reef sharks, marine turtles, and a variety of rays are often spotted here.
BACHAS BEACH: This beautiful beach is located at north of Santa Cruz Island; the beach has total extension of 1Km.
The site takes its name since Second War when the American army left two barges in the beach, the first colonizing people couldn’t pronounce that name correctly: barges, so they called Bachas.
Day 7 (Friday): Santiago Island & Bartolome Island
SULLIVAN BAY: wet landing and hiking. Description of the place: all the road and the island is composed of lava flows that still they are virtually without eroding and they cover an extensive area, lava pohoehhoe or of cords, hornitos, mollugo, this plant grows in the lava. Lava Colonizers.
BARTOLOME ISLAND: Dry landing, landing wet for the beach, activities to carry out in this island: walk, swimming, snorkeling, and photography. We will walk for a path to the top (114 m) pioneering plants that will observe in this place TIQUILIA, CHAMAESYCE, SCALESIA, the island is formed by cones, pipes of lava by where lava flow. Wet landing, path to the south beach through mangrove swamps and vegetation of dunes. North beach: Swimming and snorkeling will be the activities that are going to carry out. Since the top of the island Bartolome we will be able to observe the islands as Santiago, Rabida, Isabela. We can find penguins in the Rock Pinnacle.
Day 8 (Saturday): Santa Cruz Island: Highlands
After breakfast we will visit HIGHLANDS OF SANTA CRUZ, where we have a trekking and we will find the giant tortoises in their natural habitat, this is a natural spectacular. For this visit we recommend to use sport shoes, long pants, raincoat, hut and sun block. Transfer to the airport.
Day 1 (Saturday): Santa Cruz Island
Baltra airport. Reception at airport. Transfer IN. Welcome on board EcoGalaxy Cruise. Welcome drink and lunch Arrive to Baltra Island.
Charles Darwin Station is located in the Main Port of Santa Cruz Island, we will take our private bus that take us to the entrance of the center of breeding where we go to appreciate tortoises and land iguanas in captivity, this center is the main site of breeding of the islands. Animals that were in danger of extinction in the different islands are maintained in captivity and thanks at dedicated work of several institutions some species are saving, here was where the most famous tortoise “the Solitary George” the last survivor of the species of Pinta Island lived.
Day 2 (Sunday): Floreana Island
PUNTA CORMORANT: wet landing, snorkeling and short trekking. This point is located at west of Floreana Island and it is famous to has a dark green beach due to the great quantity of olivine crystals. You can see many marine invertebrates, as well as also sea lions, sea iguanas, the frigates and pelicans. Second visit: DEVIL´S CROWN: Activities in this place: panga ride and optional swimming. Panga ride around of a small island, this place was a satellite islet of the island Floreana. Here, we will find a group of rocks that seem to a crown, due to the constant erosion caused by the sea. It is one of the better places to do snorkeling (superficial diving) in the interior and around of the crown, excellent visibility to admire a great variety of fishes and sea animals.
POST OFFICE (Mail Bay): Wet landing. Activities in this place: short walk, swimming, snorkeling, review of the mail. Description of the Place: it is situated to the north of Floreana Island. The Post Office Bay name is because of Capitan James Colnett installed an empty Ron barrel, to use it as post office for the whaling fleets that frequented for a long time the Galapagos Islands. You can send some postcards from here to your friends and relatives or interchange letter to deliver in their destiny.
Day 3 (Monday): Espanola Island
SUAREZ POINT: dry landing, activities that were carried out in this place: walking; recommendable clothes: sports shoes, hat, cap, solar lotion. There is not color more amazing and outstanding in this tropical desert island that the blue-foot boobies; they have an impressive form to “greeting” and it is a real spectacle to see the ritualistic parade of the entourage. In several islands we can admire this bird due to that nests and feed are located in diverse places close to the coast. In this place we will be able to observe the Albatross with a weight from three to four kilograms and an importance of more than two meters, this creature of aristocratic aspect is one of the largest birds of the islands. Around twelve thousand couples have their nests in the Española Island (some few in the Silver Island near of main land Ecuador). This specie is considered endemic from this island during our walking we will be able to observe these fantastic birds, we will be part of the beautiful and only landscapes that offers this island. Important Note: Albatross will be not possible to see between January and March. Also we will observe colonies of marine iguanas, zayapas, mask boobies, finches, Española cucuves, and seagulls unique of the island. Our walking will be for lava rock path where we will be able to admire the hollow blowers. The vegetation of this island is of red mangrove.
GARDNER BAY: wet landing, activities for this visit: short walking, swimming, snorkeling, and observation of seals colony.
The sea lion is one of the animals in Galapagos which gets the total attention of the visitors in the Galapagos: they are curious and playful, but at times aggressive; they are nice and loving, but also lazy. In Gardner Bay, we are going to find many of them relaxing in the beach enjoying of the sun. Snorkeling in the area where we will be able to swim with them, besides you observe these fascinating animals, we will swim with the sea turtles, diversity of tropical fish, marine iguanas etc. We will return to the ship, to sail toward the following island. Visit to: Gardner & Osborn Islets.
Day 4 (Tuesday): San Cristobal Island: Interpretation Centre - Transfer Out
INTERPRETATION CENTER: Dry landing. This center is location in the Main Port. After our breakfast we will go toward our first visit: Interpretation Center of San Cristobal. The most modern and sophisticated architectural space destined for the natural interpretation of Galapagos, where you can know from the volcanic formation of the islands, the evolution of the species, passing for the history of the human settlements to come to understand to its complex systems and model of management. Transfer out.